How Is AI Changing Higher Education?

Catalog description

This course will explore how generative AI and other forms of artificial intelligence are changing higher education. Topics include ethical questions about AI, how academic writing and publishing are changing in response to AI, and the historical and social contexts for adopting new educational technology. Students will use large language models (LLMs) and other AI tools to prepare for class, assess the educational value of AI tools for higher education, and discuss questions raised when individuals and institutions use AI. The class meetings will be organized using a structured, active, in-class learning or SAIL framework, so students will organize and lead many class activities. Sharing experiences and ideas about using AI will be foundational to the course. Students will use JeepyTA, an LLM-based teaching tool created by the Penn Center for Learning Analytics, to aid their learning and to gain practical experience using a generative AI model. We will approach AI as a technology that has the potential to improve learning, not to replace educational effort or to be used simply to complete assignments. We will consider the ethical problems and social risks, especially in the context of student use. Norms and expectations for using generative AI tools will be determined collaboratively by the students and instructor during the first week of class and subject to discussion and revision throughout the semester